Contact:
Kevin Weeks, 503-945-7427
An advisory group to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) regarding state-managed forestland in northwest Oregon will meet on Friday March 11 in Forest Grove to discuss implementation plans on state forestland within ODF’s Forest Grove and Astoria districts.

The State Forests Advisory Committee will meet at the Forest Grove Community Auditorium, 1915 Main Street from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. Public comment is scheduled to be heard at 2:00 p.m.

The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7427.

ODF’s State Forests Advisory Committee is made up of citizens and interest group representatives from timber, environmental and recreational groups. The committee provides a forum to discuss issues, opportunities and concerns, and offer advice and guidance to ODF on the implementation of the Northwest Oregon State Forests Management Plan (NW FMP). The planprovides guidance for managing 616,000 acres within the Tillamook, Clatsop and Santiam State Forests, and several scattered state-owned forest tracts in Benton, Polk, Lincoln and Lane counties.

The NW FMP calls for ODF to actively manage the state forestlands for economic, environmental and social resource benefits. The plan provides a balanced approach to generate revenue while also placing environmental and social resource benefits as a priority.

The Oregon Department of Forestry provides land management of 818,000 acres of forest within Oregon, concentrated in six large State Forests and numerous small forest tracts in 15 Oregon counties. Two-thirds of the revenue generated from timber sales goes to the counties that deeded these lands to the state. ODF retains one-third of revenues to manage the forestlands and protect these public assets from fire.